In a remarkably audacious incident, moped-mounted raiders returned to a London jewellers they had burgled just minutes earlier to snatch back "high value" gems that were dropped during their frantic getaway. The brazen attack unfolded at Sultan Jewellers on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Chaotic Scene Unfolds in Early Hours
Several men targeted the jewellery store at approximately 3.30am, using a sledgehammer to smash the shop's windows before fleeing as police officers arrived at the scene. CCTV footage obtained by the Daily Mail reveals the extraordinary moment when two men on a moped returned to retrieve what appeared to be stolen jewellery they had left behind during their initial escape.
Police Response and Pursuit
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that first officers were on the scene within about three minutes of the initial alarm call. A force spokesperson stated: "They chased a number of offenders who were trying to break into the shop. They detained one of the men around 40 yards further down the road and, while trying to secure him on the ground, were subjected to threats with a weapon from another suspect who was riding a moped."
Further officers arrived to support their colleagues approximately ninety seconds later. Two police officers visible in the footage attempted to chase the suspects on foot before the thieves managed to escape for a second time. Out of shot, other police staff caught up with one individual and successfully wrestled valuables from him.
Retrieval Operation and Forensic Preservation
The police spokesperson elaborated: "They gave chase to the remaining offenders and were able to secure items that the thieves had scattered in the street. Officers then secured the scene to ensure that opportunities to carry out forensics were not lost."
At 3.27am, three mopeds had raced down Uxbridge Road toward the jewellers before the thieves began smashing through the shop's security shutters with tools, creating visible sparks in the air. As officers attempted to apprehend the gang, one moped rider circled while waiting for his accomplice, who then jumped on the back of the vehicle.
Dropped Items Prompt Return
During this chaotic escape, the passenger appeared to drop several items on the pavement outside the jewellers before the pair sped away, followed by another moped rider. Remarkably, less than sixty seconds later, two mopeds returned and a passenger jumped off to swipe the gems they had left behind.
As the gang made their second escape, two officers pursued them down the road on foot before returning to the scene where an arrest was made. Shards of broken glass and jewellery remained strewn across the ground outside Sultan Jewellers for hours afterward.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Jason Daley, 33, of Brent, northwest London, has been charged with burglary and criminal damage, and was remanded in custody overnight. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. Police confirmed on Friday that the search for "a number of other suspects" who fled officers on mopeds remains ongoing.
At least four police vehicles attended the scene, and the high street was blocked off by officers. A police cordon remained in place for more than twelve hours following the theft. Jack Stones, landlord at the Defectors Weld pub on Uxbridge Road, reported seeing fresh blood on the pavement outside the jewellers when he walked past at 7am.
Context of West London Jewellery Heists
This attack occurs amid a concerning wave of jewellery heists across west London. Crime gangs have recently targeted stores in Knightsbridge and Richmond, employing various methods including smashing windows, ramming SUVs into barred doors, and driving motorbikes through glass storefronts.
Recent Similar Incidents
In broad daylight on Saturday morning, brazen thieves attacked the family-owned Gregory & Co jewellers in Richmond. Footage shared widely on social media showed criminals swinging a large hammer against the glass window before peeling it away and filling a blue bag with displayed valuables.
On Tuesday, January 20, several armed attackers rushed the Bucherer Rolex Boutique at One Hyde Park, stealing thousands of pounds worth of watches from the Knightsbridge store. Reports indicated men wearing motorcycle helmets barged in and threatened staff with weapons before stealing several items.
Historical Context of Location
The Shepherd's Bush attack on Tuesday occurred nearly seven years after three armed men smashed into the neighbouring shop with a Range Rover. In October 2019, the e-Smart Money foreign exchange, which was linked internally to the jewellers, was targeted by thieves who crashed through the shop's window.
During that 2019 incident, a thief wearing a motorcycle helmet ran out with a sledgehammer, but bystanders took matters into their own hands, restraining one of the three attackers, Ben Wegener, as they tried to flee. Pedestrians attempted to restrain him after he dropped a bag and fell in the road, with witnesses filming the confrontation.
Wegener, of no fixed address, was subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to robbery, dangerous driving, possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and receiving stolen goods. His two accomplices escaped, and the stolen Range Rover with fake number plates was later recovered by police.
The Metropolitan Police continue their investigations into this latest incident and urge anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference CAD732/29JAN.
